The Bhima lift irrigation project is likely to provide water to farmlands in 2011.

Karnataka Neeravari Nigam is likely to complete work on the Phase I of Bhima lift irrigation project in Gulbarga district by July 2011.

The project is expected to cost Rs 588.73 crore. So far, Rs 200 crore has been spent on the project which has been included in the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) this year. As a result, Rs 100 crore is expected from the AIBP by December 2010. Of this, Rs 31 crore had been received so far.

The project is likely to irrigate about 24,300 ha. Under the Phase I, over 5,000 ha under the Balundigi lift irrigation canal is likely to be irrigated, and by July 2012 the entire command area of 24,300 ha will be brought under the irrigation network.

Under Scheme A of the Bachawat Tribunal Award, the project has been allocated six thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of water; of this, 4.73 tmcft will be used to irrigate 24,300 ha, while the remaining will be utilised for drinking and industrial purposes.

Work on the barrage across the Bhima near the Devangaon bridge, installation of pumps to lift water from the Balundigi lift point and the Allagi lift point has been completed.

Installation of electricity poles and conductors to the 33 kV power station near the Balundigi and Allagi lift points is in the final stages of completion. Construction of canals and distributaries is in various stages of completion.

Construction has been completed up to the 25 km in the 63.76-km long Balundigi lift irrigation canal. The canal is to irrigate 16,721 ha. Work on laying field irrigation channels is in progress with completion slated for 2012. Tenders had been floated for the construction of the canal from the 25th to the 45th km. The tendering process is to be completed by September 2011. Besides, construction of the 35.78-km Allagi lift irrigation canal has already commenced with completion in July 2012.

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